We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.
T.S. Eliot -- "Little Gidding" (the last of his Four Quartets)
This contest is for 600 points
plus miscellaneous rewards for miscellaneous things.
Lots of you have T.S. Eliot listed as your favorite author.
Lots of you have The Waste Land listed among your favorite poems.
Some of you may have never read it.
Lets go on an explore.
Read The Waste Land for the 1st, 10th, 100th time.
Write me a poem about the experience.
Remember:
The best place to dig a Very Deep Pit in which to catch a Heffalump
is somewhere where a Heffalump is, only about a foot farther on.
-- Pooh's Little Instruction Book, inspired by A. A. Milne
Online Version Available
(though, personally, I do believe it should be read on paper).
www.bartleby.com/201/1.html
Thank you and have a good day.
Or lots of them all in a row.
Or scattered over the weeks, months, years.
P.S. If you happen to have a pre-write about this very subject matter -
please IM me such said poem and I will make considerations.
However you should read The Waste Land again anyway.
I suppose.
P.S. painting by Peter Bruegel
Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on October 21, 2005
- Rewards: Gold: 600
- Final notes: It wasn't really a contest was it?
It was more a discussion and sharing between a group of people who have a common interest in the Art of Poetry and probably other things.
I rather like to imagine all of us sitting around some large round table, smoke from cigarettes or cigars heading up toward the light, wine glasses in various stages of full, some spilled on the tablecloth, crumbs on the table from some simple bread and cheese. There would be some good hearty laughter mixed right along with good hearty honest sharing of ideas, sporadic arguments as we all tried to get our point across .. definitely music.
I'd rather like to think that no matter how the night ended, we'd kiss each other and and say "see you next month when we take up Ginsberg's Howl."
In the end, it is ridiculous for me to award trophies and points but the system makes me and I should have remembered that at the beginning.
So I picked three.
You guys rock.
LisaEntries [6]
1 - 6 of 6-
OK, Eliot,
it’s late, I’m tired,• Commented on by judge. -
A poem concerning T.S. Eliot's "The Waste Land"by NoIQ 57 lines, 39 comments, on Sep 17 11:06 AM 2005. In Contemporary• Commented on by judge.
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Inspired by T.S. Eliot's "The Wasteland"• Commented on by judge.
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Inspired by T.S. Eliot's "The Wasteland".• Commented on by judge.
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No longer waiting for rain,
I welcome (without zeal) this aridity.by camus 42 lines, 25 comments, on Oct 4 3:20 AM 2005. In Contemporary• Commented on by judge. -
We harvest God by releasing from its bondage
the eternal element inherent in all humanity.by MikeLondon 1972 lines, 2 comments, on Oct 4 8:59 PM 2005. In Hope• Commented on by judge.
Add a comment
Comments
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It is best read on paper and it's been a while since I have... wow, quite a challenge you've presented here Lisa. Best of luck with this one.
And have a clappy for miscellaneous things...
Jan -
Thsi is an awesome contest. I remember having to study this in Native Studies. We had to make personal replies. I have this and am going to go have another read and see what I can come up with before the 25th.
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Oh dear -- I hope this exercise doesn't require me to delve into obscure Latin, Greek and other foreign texts, all the while attempting to figure out why April is the cruelest month, and managing iambic pentameter at the outset, only to shift to dialogue and free verse. Most of all, I hope this exercise doesn't require a 19 page poem....
Seriously, Lisa, a great idea. I leave for NYC later in the week. However, time permitting, I would love to enter this contest. I have a solid love-hate relationship with The Waste Land...
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Do it. I thought of you immediately. Was going to send you an invite personally.
NYC loves the Waste Land.
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Aw yes! I am one of those who has never read the Waste Land. It can also be found at this site: www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/18993
Excellent idea for a contest.
~Dee
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Thanks Dee .. looking forward to your entry then!
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C'mon join the fun.
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well it's in my collection
((on paper in a hardback)) LOLOLOLOLOL
.. .. but I'm on nights.. and my brain has gone into fart mode, plus I'm all out of contests for the moment!!.. so I shall watch from the side-lines and enjoy that way.. -
boooo booooo booooo -
you ...you... you
if it's still up in a few days.. when these nights are finished..
I'll have a bash
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misselaineous sends you a miscellaneous applause ~ tho will nt be entering
elaine
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boooo boooo boooo
(but many thanks .. nice to see you)
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LOL -- Just wait until you see all the appropriately obscure footnotes.
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I love footnotes. -
Oh April, she laughs
supercilious
to fool us so promised
slays our most cynical eyes,
with daggers of hope
bled in blossoms
Oh April she kills
with such sweet denial
(how wretched are we in belief)
she is of all
the slowest death,
but how we prostrate
for merely one whip of her torture
weep beneath her slip of birth
as we inhale her breath.
this is one of those contests I would actually love to attempt..but probably won't...though I know for sure I will go and read the Wasteland again...
great idea..
~~Lisa/whims
Edited on Sep 12, 1:16 p.m. because ''. -
I'll say it here too ..
Please? I was counting on the likes of you who have this dude up there on your list of favorites of all times ...
Consider it. I'd be honored and honoured even.
AllTheWayMe
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I'll shall flog my muse with feathered whips.. and see whether or not it succumbs... ; ) ..and thank you..
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Oh the spine of the Eliot is broken and I think there are pages missing, or they maybe shoved in Rod McKuen, I will look again. I don't know if I manage a poem, but maybe. I also give a clap for extra twiddles.
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oh I just don't know... now were it The Hollow Men... maybe I should run a contest on that one hehe.
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Oh you must .. I loved your Charles Beaudelaire ..
And this Rod McKuen I must check out. Second time the name's come up.
Make up the missing parts.
Extra twiddles make the world a better place....
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Okay- I'll go for it on impulse.
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I wish I could enter but I only have prewrites...
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im familiar with T.S. Elliot and his work so ill see what i can do but im not going to hold any guarantees on entering
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Come come .. .join the fun. I have no guarantees other than 600 points ..
Thanks for stopping by.
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Boy, I have been studying this poem hard for two days. I have a poem starting but there is so very much going on int he poem. Every word has to be examined to glean the correct meanings.. whew! Whew! How many days do I have left???? *smiles and writes down another beginning to her poem, "Look hard, Tierias, tell me what you see.........
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Morning .. take your time. If I need to extend it I will ..
Lisa
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I am intrigued by this, Lisa, and hope to create something for it as well. An epic, if you will! lol
Fun contest and good luck with it.
peace
doug
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Always such creative and dfferent contests. Good thing. Thanks for hosting this one!
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sorry Lisa...didn't realize this was a contest...the title had intrigued me so i clicked but looks like a really great idea...and i see you already have a lot of interest. Good luck with the entries!
UB
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I can honestly say I have read The Waste Land about 20 times. I can also say that (apart from the typist bit) I don't understand a bloody word of it.
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... although I do have a polecat song called Tiresias which is vaguely connected ....
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I never thought I'd actually say these words, and I may still live to regret them, but I'm somewhat inclined to concur with the Wormy one, and say that the bloody thing has never made much sense to me.
Perhaps it's time for me to read it again, and see what my muse has to say about it? Anywho, interesting idea for a contest, that's for sure... -
Well, cvillelisa, you've attracted a heady crowd to your T. S. Eliot-fest! I will play the saxiphone in the woodwinds section, then, if you don't mind! feeling a bit spunky here...
Edited on Sep 17, 3:34 p.m. because ''. -
Me neither ... never stops me though from letting something in ..
Are you requesting Tiresias be entered as a prewrite?
Clink. -
I have this love/hate/love relationship with Eliot's The Waste Land, but his Tradition and the Individual Talent has become a great influence on me. I try to 'impersonalize' my poetry day after day, removing my presence in my poems. I'd like to try 'responding' to his poem, but i'm not sure how to yet. This is an amazing contest that serves as a tribute to one of the greatest poets/literary theorists of our generation.
Kannika -
Thank you .. I'm horrid at removing myself .. so much so I'm quite sure I'll be giving up writing and attempting Poetry in about 15 minutes or immediately after posting this reply.
Let it wash over you .. or swim in it and give it a go.
I'll be waiting. P.S. I'll probably extend .. its a tough assignment.
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Thank you for the challenge!! .. there is nothing I like better than a journey through words, and that is exactly what this contest has given me.. Many thanks for that, no matter what the outcome.... this was worth every second..
~~Lisa/whims -
I enjoyed the works of T.S. Eliot a bit more when I was younger. I haven't read The Waste Land in about 20 years. Guess it's time for me to re-visit these words, and I shall. I do plan on entering this challenge. I see some of the biggest guns on the site are aimed here. I ain't scured! Good luck judging. I have to ingest this work before I can ever attempt to justify writing about it or trying to mimmick his style. I will be back!
Much Love,
Renee
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Excellent! I look forward to your entry .. I probably will extend .. so take your time.
Lisa
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I've been twitchin' ever since you posted this contest and I've re-read the Wasteland several times in search and contemplative redemption... Thanks a lot! Got a smoke?
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Only if you follow me smell the smoke?.. ....... hehehe. Hey Ballsy.
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but how much beer has been consumed to drown phoenician sailors?
I've gone back once now. I am willing to forgive you, Lisa, you make me tap my teeth. -
Hello Everyone .. Please note I've extended the Contest a bit ..
I'd like to give it another round of promotion and also, The Host needs to spend a bit of time with Mr. Eliot, herself.
Those of have entered .. feel free to edit or groom your pieces as you'd like. Those looking for the first or whatever time, (Ballsy) feel free to submit your piece over the next few days.
Thanks!
Cville.
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Where do I find a copy of this poem? I've never read it. I don't usually do impromptu stuff but maybe in this case I'll make an exception.
Frightendove -
Sorry Chuck, didn't know this was a contest or I wouldn't have clicked.
I don't DO them.
Good luck with it anyway, and please accept this applause as a form of apology.
Regards,
Robin. -
Thank you that was kind.
Lisa -
There is a link to an online version up in the contest
I just extended it for the last time .. please join the adventure..Lisa -
Wow..this looks very interesting..never wrote a poem about this before. Maybe I'll try to enter. Good luck on judging!
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Lisa, your contest helped me to unlock a few rooms in my memory mansion, which were locked for a few years. It gave me freedom to choose between then and now, how I saw the events at that time and how I interpret them now. Waste Land was a joke among a few of my friends, we used to get into friendly ridiculing (especially with literature students, yes ladies)for their fondness over TSE and the poem...Now the times have changed!
Thanks for conducting this contest.
Edited on Oct 03 because ''. -
Good day everyone. Well now that the contest has officially closed .. I will begin reading the entries. I have read none as of this very moment.
Please bear with me as I make my way through your work. This contest brought me many places as I myself read and re-read The Waste Land as well as many other pieces of work related to it.
Thanks for submitting your poems and being patient with the Host.
Lisa
Edited on Oct 05, 6:09 because ''. -
I wish you the BEST OF LUCK in judging this contest. I think you will need it. And perhaps a dozen teapots filled with steaming peppermint tea (good scent for meditation), and a cold compress (maybe 5). Twas a v. inspired idea though, so kudos to you for having the courage to put this contest up and summon some of the most powerful Muses here in AP to burn a lot of their writer-hosts' brain cells into supernova heat with massive inspiration overflow.
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Printing out your poems as we speak so I can read them over the weekend on paper - make notes etc.
One in the contest is 24 pages long!
Yikes.
I will comment on all entries .. This is quite the project. These are quite the poems. Thanks for your patience.
Lisa
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Good luck !! I don't envy your position.. though I still think this is one of the best contests I have ever seen on this site.. and I congratulate you for holding it..
~~Lisa/whims
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Thanks, Lisa ..
And everyone, yes, I'm still working on them ..
I checked with the Mods to make sure I wasn't breaking any rules by taking my time with this contest ... I was told 3 weeks is the maximum and that I should keep you posted ..hopefully it won't take that long.
Thanks again for everyone's patience.
Lisa
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*Pouring a bucket of cold water on Cvillisa* to nullify the effect of reading my soporific poem. Hey, hurry back, there is a new contest, and expect you to see in that(no excuses!). Next time will come back with hot water, if my caveat is unheeded!
*Calvin gets busy making snow angels*
Edited on Oct 12, 8:01 because ''. -
Sorry everyone ..
I've been distracted and WILL judge this contest ..in the next two days.
Lisa -
sorry .. still working on it ..
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Okay guys .. I've got 2 more I need to read again and comment on .. but tonight at 10:32, I'm exhausted .. these are such amazing entries ..as I told Tic Toc, my head hurts which means I must be enjoying myself or at least I'm being massively intellectually challenged ..
Tomorrow is another day .. blessings to you for your kindness.
Lisa
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Oh crikey. I don't know what to say. Neither will Stef. We think our poems look like they come from kindergarten class when we read everyone else's. You run best contests here to make inspirations and to make us think and learn and stretch. I learn so much from everyone else's submissions. All I can say is thanks to you and everyone else too. And I beat him lol , but he will suck his toes when he comes in and sees. It is as you say, like sitting round and discussing in lovely atmosphere. big
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Congraulations Nik, Debracey, almostme Lisa, and cvillelisa Lisa. This was a special contest, so those trophies are particularly meaningful.
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Outstanding Contest, Lisa! Thanks for hosting it! And congratulations to all the trophy winners for a well deserved honor.
peace
doug
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Thanks I appreciate the nod.. in such a contest. Congrats to the rest of the winners ( and all else who entered, just for reading, and responding to the Wasteland )..
A special thanks to all who made the entries in this so wonderful to read..
And of course, thank you again Cvillelisa[Lisa] for holding the contest..
~~Lisa/whims...
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Much more than a nod .. was a full fledged curtsy .. guess you couldn't tell from where you were.
Wish I didn't have to order them and I've learned my lesson.
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Thanks Monte, I wish I could clean of my shelf and give them out to everyone who entered this .. damn rules won't let me.
I was thinking of giving points but even that seemed rather I don't know, cheap for these entries...and these friends.
xxoo -
Perhaps, Nik you don't know of this book "Everything I needed to Learn I Learned in Kindergarten"
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Peace back atcha my friend....xxoo -
OOOOOH That has to be the most treasured accolade in my humble little cabinet. I have kept coming back here to read the poems over and over, and as Nik says, the company is far more erudite than certainly I can ever hope to be. In the end it is all about learning and enjoying, and your contest has given me the chance to do both in huge measure. Many thanks,Lisa, and of course, to AlmostMe and to everyone else too.
I expect Cville is now lying down in a darkened room with a large glass of something rich and slurpy.
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Congratulations to the winners & all other entrants...well done, Poets...Thank you, Lisa, for an amazing contest...I was honored to be on the same page with these amazing writers...Be well, Poets... Wanda
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The trophy should go to you, Lisa, for bringing to life this contest. Yes, it was a splendid party. I enjoyed the wine, very much. See you at the next get-together, darling. Tata for now!
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Congratulations to the winners, and Cvillelisa for holding such a brilliant contest. You did a marvellous job, judging it in two-and-half weeks...
Calvin
Edited on Oct 21, 9:38 p.m. because ''. -
Congratulations... Lisa you did a fine job with this and it must have been bloody hard to pick the winners..
but I'm so glad Niki got first.. his had a stark reality that did bite so well
well done hun and congrats to all
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